A stinky little problem: True to its name, malodorous bug invades many area homes

By Oliver Jenkins

ojenkins@fosters.com

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Click image to enlarge

A western conifer seed bug
Alan Eaton/Courtesy photo

DOVER — A small insect notorious for generating big headaches around the Seacoast is once again giving homeowners reason to gripe.Stink bugs — small, smelly pests that can damage crops and overwhelm buildings — have been a recent source of frustration as they congregate in masses outside and inside homes in preparation for the winter months.“I'm not sure why, but this has been a great year for them,” said Alan Eaton, an entomologist at the University of New Hampshire's Cooperative Extension program. “They search for cracks or crevasses to hide in and form huge masses on buildings.”And these masses have been visible as of late, with large numbers invading homes in search of overwintering sites.As Eaton explained, most of these stink bugs are known as the western conifer seed bug — an insect which has expanded eastward since first being detected in Pennsylvania in 1992.The western conifer seed bug is a relative of the brown marmorated stink bug — another insect that has contributed to this sudden influx. The brown marmorated stink bug, however, is currently only present in eight municipalities statewide. Therefore, Eaton credited the western conifer seed bug as the primary source of these recent headaches.“Sealing holes, cracks, and other openings is the best approach,” Eaton said. “There are a lot of places people might not think about that are actually great for these insects.”Although neither bites, is poisonous, or spreads disease, these dime-sized bugs emit terrible odors when triggered and are classified as agricultural pests. Stink bugs can cause widespread damage to fruit and vegetable crops, including peaches, apples, green beans, soybeans, cherries, raspberries, and pears, among others. And once inside homes, neither insect needs much space to feel comfortable and secure — they've been known to settle around window sills, picture frames, and behind television screens. Once nestled in their new locations, these insects pass the winter months in a deep hibernation, returning once again around May or June. For now, effective strategies to reduce these insects remain unclear — although sprays are somewhat effective, researchers have said numbers are too big to eradicate entire populations. And although Eaton said Sept. 15 is normally the deadline to seal up any holes, crevasses, or cracks the bugs may take advantage of, he noted it's still worth the effort to take precautionary measures today.